Maternity dress



Nov. 4, 1941. H, E, RENO 2,261,662

MATERNITY DRESS Filed Jan. 30, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 i; Z2 Z7 12- INVENTOR W A'ITORNEY- H. E, RENO 2,261,662

MATERNITY DRESS Nov. 4, 1941.

Filed Jan. 50, 1941 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 lZ 27 22 56 Y 46 J25 J9 47 4 J5 INVENTOR 7W BY 26/- TORNEY Patented Nov. 4, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT -OFFICE 2,261,662 MATERNITY DRESS Hannah E. Reno, Grafton, Pa. Application January 30, 1941, Serial No. 376,595

2 Claims.

This invention relates generally to wearing apparel and more particularly to adjustably fitting garments such as maternity dresses.

The principal object of this invention is the provision of a dress, for wear during pregnancy, which is adjustable to maintain the front hem at a uniform height regardless of the waist measurement.

Another object is the provision of an adjustable maternity dress which disguises the figure by producing and maintaining fixed dress lines.

Another object is the provision of an adjustable maternity dress that may be designed to follow ar vogue pattern or style and disguise the figure of the wearer.

Another objectis the provision of a maternity dress for wear during pregnancy, having means for adjustment to provide for enlargement.

Other objects and structural advantages appear in the following specification and claims.

In the accompanying drawings a practical embodiment illustrating the principles of this invention is shown wherein:

Fig. l is a front elevation of the base garment of a dress comprising this invention.

Fig. 2 is a rear elevation of the base garment shown in Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is a view of the adjustable front piece of the dress.

Fig. 4 is a view of a modified form of the adjustable front piece of the dress.

Fig. 5 is a side elevation of the dress.

Fig. 6 is a view similar to Fig. 5 showing the dress partially expanded.

Fig. 7 is a view similar to Fig. 6 showing the dress further expanded.

Fig. 8 is a front view of the upper portion of the dress illustrating one manner of fastening and covering the adjustable front piece with the base garment.

Fig. 9 is a view similar to Fig. 8 illustrating another way of securing the adjustable front piece to the base garment.

Referring to the drawings, I0 designates a coat-like base garment of the dress which is preferably made in the form of a wrap-around dress out from a' suitable pattern appropriately chosen with respect to the normal size of the wearer. The front of the garment illustrated comprises right and left panels II and I2 which extend from their respective shoulder seams I3 and I4 to the bottom hem I5. The right panel II laps over the left panel I2 and the material of the former is folded back as indicated at I6,

forming a return II, the free edge of which return is attached to the edge of the panel I2 by the seam I8 which extends from the'bottom hem I5 to approximately the hip line. Thus the seam I8 maintains the front panels of the base garment I II in their proper position adjacent the bottom of the garment.

Coacting fastening means I9, such as ties, hooks and eyes, snaps, or any other suitable means, are placed in spaced relation on the panel I2 and on the return I'I adjacent the fold I6 for drawing and closing the base garment at the upper front. The fastenings I9 are tem porarily secured to the garment so that, as enlargement is required, they may be moved toward the free edges of the panel I2 and the return II.

Thus as the fastenings are shifted, a corresponding portion of the material in the return I! is added to the panel II, and the elfective width of the panel I2 is increased by the degree in which its fastenings have been shifted toward the free edge of the panel. 'When all of the material has been added to the panel II and the fastenings on the panel I2 have been moved adjacent its free edge the limit of enlargement has been reached.

After the fastenings have been shifted to the desired degree the garment is pressed to obliterate the old fold I6 and form a new one along the exposed edgeof the return II. The seam I8 extends upwardly and the row of fastenings I9 extend downwardly to approximately the hip line of the wearer. The provision of the return II between the panels II and I2 produces what may be called a front action pleat which provides clearance of the limbs when walking.

The panels II and I2 are joined in seams along their other edges to the right and left front gore members 20 and 2I respectively, which are cut out adjacent their upper ends to form the front of the arm holes 22 and 23 and are shaped to fit the wearer. The right and left rear gore members 26 and 25 are also cutout to form the panels II and I2 with a suitably shaped neck,

opening 21.

Suitable sleeves 28 and 29 are secured in the arm holes 22 and 23 formed by the joining of the front and rear gore members.

The coat-like wrap-around l0, above described, may be considered a, complete unit in itself so far as the progressive steps of making the dress are concerned. The actual shape or design of the several elements making up this portion of the dress may of course be changed to follow the vogue. The hem I is formed continuously around the base garment, since the seam I8 joins the front panels; The hem is of uniform height in the front but is shown unevenly in Fig. 1 to illustrate the fold.

Referring to Fig. 3, 30 indicates the over-garment or dress-front which is made up of a center panel section 3| extending from the neck or yoke line 32 to the bottom hem 33. At the waist line 34 the material of the center panel 3| is provided with lateral extensions which taper toward their outer ends to form the belt ends 35.

Right and left blouse sections 33 and 3'! are secured by the seam 38 to the upper portion of the central panel section 3! and the belt ends 35. The outer edges 39 of these blouse sections are arcuate so that they may fit the contour of the wearer from a point adjacent the shoulder seam down in front of the arm to the waist. The skirt sides 40 of the dress-front 30 are sewed at the top to the belt ends 35 and at their front edges to the panel 3!. These skirt sides extend around rearwardly and are sewed by means of the under arm seam 4| to the lateral edges of back section 42, the rear edges of which are free. v The central panel 3| may extend to the seam 4| on each side of the skirt as shown in Fig. 4, or the skirt sides 40 may be divided into a series of gore sections, as shown in Fig. 3. The skirt sides 40 may be pleated or given any desirable appearance without altering the seam locations. The back sections 42 of the skirt extend from the under arm seams 40 to adjacent the middle of the back. The free vertical edges of these sections of the skirt may be aligned along the side seams of the back panel 26 of the base garment ID, or they may meet in the middle of the back as indicated in the arrangement in Fig. 3.

Means are provided for securing the upper part of the over-garment to the base garment adjacent the shoulder seams, as indicated at 43. The .two garments may fasten together as 'by sewing, buttoning, snapping or hooking, or any other suitable means. After the coat-like base garment is fitted to the wearer the over-garment 30 'is adjusted to properly position the hem 33 at the proper elevation from the floor and then fastened at 43. If the wearer is of normal size the hems l5 and 33 match. The skirt is then gathered around the wearer and fastened in the rear, thereby producing a neat and trim garment.

In Fig. 3 buttons are employed as the fastening means at the 'top of the over-garment, as indicated at 43, and buttonholes 44 may 'be' provided in the belt ends 35 which are to' be engaged by buttons at the back of the base garment.

The over-garment 30, as shown in Fig. 4, is made from a pattern-similar to that of Fig. 3 but embodies a different design. The upper edge of the over-garment is scalloped as indicated at 45. Each tab of the scalloped edge .is provided with a buttonhole to be engaged by the buttons 43. A collar 46,may be formed. on the base garment ID for covering or partially covering the yoke line 32. The belt ends 35 are separate pieces of material sewed to the outer garment and are prolonged to form the strings or ties 41 to be tied at the back. Thus the buttonholes 44, the ties 41 or any other suitable means may be employed for securing the over-garment to the base garment and to the person of the wearer.

The base garment and the over-garment are shown in assembled relation in Figs. 5, 6 and 7, showing diiTerent girth measurements. In Fig. 5 the normal waist line of the garment, indicated by the dotted line 34, is aligned with the normal waist line of the wearer indicated by the dotted line 48. When the dress front is properly fastened at the top by the buttons 43 and at the waist by tying the ties 41 in the back, the dress becomes form fitting. The principal lines of force follow around the waistband line, which produces a series of downwardly pulling secondary lines of force from the top of the dress front to the waistband. The secondary lines of force increase from the center of the over-garment outwardly to the arcuate edges 39 where the main pull is exerted to hold the waist of the over-garment close to the body. However from the waist down the skirt is permitted to hang free, but being gathered snugly at the waist line it hangs straight and close to the base garment, and the hems l5 and 33 are maintained at the same height.

As the girth increases, the fastening means E9 on the fold of the base garment are set back to let out the material and the fastening means 43 at the shoulders are lowered on the base garment, thus lowering the outer garment and maintaining the hems l5 and 33 at their proper height. The waistband adjustment is accomplished in tying a bow knot in the ties 41, and as the girth increases the waistband is increased by adjusting the position of the knot. The waist line 34 of the over-garment drops below the normal waist line 48 and the sides 42 originally in the back move forwardly toward the flanks of the wearer.

In Fig. '7 the same adjustments have been made for a further increase in girth and the original outline of the figure of the wearer is dotted to provide a comparison.

The primary object is to maintain the waist line 34 of the outer garment adjacent or preferably slightly below the largest girth of the wearer at the time being. By maintaining this adjustment the dress front may be drawn snugly about the wearer, permitting the skirt to hang in a natural position and keeping the hem 33 at the normal height. The arcuate marginal edges 39 of the outer garment also retain a snug close fit about the bust and in front of the arms. The center panel 3| is stretched by the secondary forces to prevent it from receding. The fact that the skirt of the over-garment hangs naturally and the waist is not permitted to recede, disguises the human form by producing a stoutish figure of uniformly curved lines as indicated in Fig. 7.

It is important that the base garment be made to properly fit the figure of the wearer, and as it is let out the front of the hem !5 tends to raise slightly, as illustrated in Figs. 6 and '7. The fastenings 19 along thefront of the base garment should be adjusted carefully from time to time to maintain a snug fit of the base garment.

Another advantage of this dress construction is the multiple thickness it provides for the wearer. This multiple thickness not only aids in properly disguising the figure but it also enables the wearer to eliminate under garments such as slips.

The fastening means 43 may be covered or otherwise hidden under a drape or cowl 50 which is permanently secured to the base garment adjacent the shoulder seams l3 and 14 and hang down over the Waist, as illustrated in Fig. 8. The outer garment is shown in dotted lines in two adjusted positions under the cowl.

In Fig, 9 the upper ends of the waist of the outer garment are provided with straps or suspender-like ties 51 which may pass through openings in the base garment adjacent the shoulder seam and be temporarily sewed thereto, or they may pass down the back of the dress and cross and be secured near the waist line. The openings in the base garment may be covered by epaulets as indicated at 52. If the straps be temporarily sewed in place, a zipper 53 may be used to open the neck to permit the head to pass therethrough.

It is evident that the maternity dress, which embodies the principles of my invention, may be patterned in any style.

I claim:

1. In a dress of the character described comprising a coat-like base garment having a waist and skirt portion, said. waist portion having an opening extending from the neck opening downwardly, means for adjustably securing the edges of said opening together to fit the base garment to the wearer, an outer garment having a front Waist portion covering the bust and a skirt portion extending downwardly therefrom in front and around the sides of the wearer and arranged to be supported on top of the base garment from adjacent the shoulders of the wearer, the outer garment waist portion having arcuate marginal edges fitting the wearer in front of the shoulders and terminating adjacent the outer garment skirt edges at the waist line, the upper edge of said outer garment being adjustably secured to said base garment adjacent the shoulder portion whereby said outer garment may be lowered to compensate for the hiking-up of the lower edge of the base garment, said outer garment having means for adjustably securing it about the waist line of the wearer.

2. In a dress of the character described comprising a coat-like base garment having a waist and skirt portion, said skirt portion being continuous and having an expansible pleat extending from the bottom thereof to substantially the hip line, said waist portion having an opening extending from the neck opening to substantially the hip line, means for fastening the folded portion from the neck to adjacent the hip line of the wearer to fit the base garment to the wearer and to provide an action pleat from adjacent the hip line to the bottom, an outer garment having a front waist portion covering the bust and a skirt portion extending downwardly therefrom and in front and around the sides of the wearer and arranged to be supported on top of the base garment from adjacent the shoulders of the wearer, the outer garment waist portion having arcuate marginal edges fitting the wearer in front of the shoulders and terminating adjacent the outer garment skirt edges at the waist line, the upper edge of said outer garment being adjustably secured to said base garment adjacent the shoulder portion whereby said outer garment may be lowered to compensate for the hiking-up of the lower edge of the base garment, said outer garment having means for adjustably securing it about the Waist of the wearer.

HANNAH E. RENO. 

